[LS]

Well, the methods we are using now were PRECISELY the methods we used to defeat an Islamic enemy in the Philippines from 1900-1910. What is fascinating is that the % of land forces we deployed then, and today, as a share of total U.S. ground forces was . . . almost identical. Then, and now, the enemy's goal was to win a political victory at home by provoking overreaction that would turn the entire population against the U.S. forces. It didn't work then, and it ain't working now.

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

Well, the methods we are using now were PRECISELY the methods we used to defeat an Islamic enemy in the Philippines from 1900-1910. What is fascinating is that the % of land forces we deployed then, and today, as a share of total U.S. ground forces was . . . almost identical. Then, and now, the enemy's goal was to win a political victory at home by provoking overreaction that would turn the entire population against the U.S. forces. It didn't work then, and it ain't working now.

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Good observation, but it fails to consider a few differences.

1. The Internet/communication age allows the enemy to put it's message directly into or citizens homes. The Filipino guerrillas could not do that in 1900.
2. The stakes in 1900 were nothing like today. The Philippines was a side show. In the age of NBC warfare, any guerrilla force as a chance to join the "big show". They can hit us hard at home. If not destroying the country, such a hit could leave us vulnerable to our many enemies world wide. We cannot afford to lose; we cannot afford "hit bravo" on home soil.
3. The Filipino guerrillas were not supported by a worldwide, internet-connected Islamic support group, with $Billion's of petro-dollars available to further their cause.

Yours is a good observation, but I believe we need to treat the war Islam has brought to us as nothing less than a desperate war of live and death, of national survival. Nothing less than a WWII level of national resolve and effort will defeat Islam. It means doing things like destroying Iran's oil facilities and terminals, and then maybe Venezuela's too, eliminating their ability to "threaten" the world. That would send oil to $100+ a barrel, and allow Russia to dominate the oil market, unless we take draconian steps at home to free our economy of foreign oil dependence. That means pumping oil at home from all available sources, and developing Nuclear and renewable (ethanol, etc.) energy sources. Take energy out of the equation, and the Arabs and Persians are back to being nobody-goat herders, choking on sand in their own deserts.

This is stuff we need to do; we can't treat this like a 1900 Philippines guerrilla campaign.

SFS